Top 10 Island Beaches for Secluded Getaways

It'll take two or three (or more) flights to get here, but the trip will be worth it. These are Condé Nast Traveler readers' favorite far-flung island beaches from the Readers' Choice Awards 2014.

10. Monkey Beach, Ko Phi Phi, Phi Phi Islands, Thailand

Getting there: Fly from Bangkok to Phuket. Ferries from Phuket or Krabi to Ko Phi Phi Don take 90 minutes, but speedboats cut the journey down to 45 minutes. Rent a kayak on busy Ao Lo Dalam and paddle (to your left, around the towering outcrop) for about 40 minutes.

Worth it for: The colony of boisterous monkeys after which the island is named: Though they're very cute, they're not the least bit shy and won’t hesitate to approach you for food. It's better to admire them from a distance and refrain from feeding them.

9. Lovers Beach, Nevis

Getting there: American Airlines flies nonstop from New York to St. Kitts twice weekly, otherwise you'll have to connect through Miami or San Juan. From there, hop on a five-minute flight to Nevis or 45-minute public ferry from Basseterre (if you're staying at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis, board their swanky yacht for airport-to-hotel transfer). Drive north from Oualie Beach, cross over Hurricane Hill, and walk three minutes down a dirt track to this hidden gem.

Worth it for: Its secluded, castaway appeal and view across to St. Kitts. Added bonus: It's also the nesting ground for hawksbill and leatherback turtles between April and November.

8. Pain de Sucre, Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe

Getting there: Connect on Saturdays only through Miami to and from Pointe-à-Pitre on American Airlines followed by a quick hop to Terre de Haut on offshore Iles des Saintes (a group of 8 charming islands). Pain de Sucre (Sugar Loaf) is on a northwestern peninsula, 10-minutes from the town of Le Marigot.

Worth it for: The views of Sugar Loaf Hill—a 170-foot-high basalt slope that plunges into the Bay of Saints—and its terrific snorkeling. The bay’s clear, aquamarine waters are incredibly rich with marine life; you’ll see everything from diodons to trumpetfish, plus endless coral and gorgonians.

7. Boka Kokolishi, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Getting there: Fly to Kralendijk (Flamingo International Airport) nonstop on Saturdays from Newark on United Airlines (it's a nearly five-hour flight), or connect through Houston or Atlanta on Delta. Boka Kokolishi is a solid 40-minute drive from the entrance to the Washington Slagbaai National Park, on the island's northern tip, followed by a dirt track past the ruins of the Seru Bentana lighthouse.

Worth it for: Its unique sand: The beach itself is named after the tiny snails whose crushed shells supposedly give the sand an unusual peppered hue. It’s not suitable for swimming, but there are natural splash pools carved out of lava rock that are perfect for soaking.

6. Kumimi Beach (aka Murphy), Molokai, HI

Getting there: Hawaiian Airlines has half-hour flights from Honolulu and Maui to Molokai, or try the two-hour ferry from Lahaina. It's a 45-minute drive from the town of Kaunakakai, along the island's southern shore, to this tranquil spot.

Worth it for: It’s one of the last remaining beaches in Hawaii, besides these hidden beauties, that you can actually have all to yourself. It’s also an excellent fishing spot, and good for snorkeling when it's not too windy.

5. Les Sables Roses, Rangiroa, French Polynesia

Getting there: Flights on Air Tahiti from Papeete last just over an hour and fifteen minutes (after your long, trans-Pacific journey). Les Sables Roses is an isolated, phenomenally deserted beach on the atoll's southeastern shores.

Worth it for: Le Sables Roses is French for “The Pink Sands,” and that’s exactly what you’ll find here: an isolated, immaculate pink sand beach. Thanks to finely pulverized coral, the sand on the southeast part of the atoll really does glow a pale shade of pink. With that turquoise water, it’s a photographer’s dream come true.

4. Plage de la Pointe Marin, Martinique

Getting there: Connect in Miami (Wednesdays and Saturdays, on American Airlines) or through Montreal (on Air Canada) for flights to Fort-de-France. From there, it's a rather winding road south, for just under an hour, keeping an eye out for signs to Club Med; the beach is part of the Club Med Les Boucaniers.

Worth it for: Its fun, lively atmosphere: Thanks to shallow, clear waters and plenty of shade (from a dense curtain of coconut palms), Plage de Pointe Marin is popular with families. To the left of the beach, you’ll also find many sailboats and catamarans anchored, and well-defined jet-skiing and water activities areas for the more adventurous.

3. Motu Privé, Motu Tautau, Raiatea, French Polynesia

Getting there: 40-minute flights on Air Tahiti from Papeete (after your trans-Pacific "hop"), followed by taxi transfer to boat to the gorgeous islet of Motu Tautau and home to the highly-rated Le Taha'a Island Resort & Spa, and a quick swim to offshore Motu Privé.

2. Palm Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Getting there: There are no direct flights to St. Vincent and the Grenadines from outside the Caribbean, so you must first fly to Barbados. From Barbados, take an inter-island flight to Union Island, and then hop aboard another boat to arrive at Palm Island.

Worth it for: Private-island luxury. You get castaway-like seclusion plus five-star resort treatment: After everything you do to get there, you can treat yourself to sunbathing solo on unspoiled velveteen shores, with a butler on hand to bring you cocktails and refreshments.

1. Rosalie Bay Beach, Dominica

Getting there: The quickest connection to the island of Dominica is on Win Air from St. Maarten/St. Martin (one hour to Melville Hall Airport in Marigot). From there, it's another hour or so drive to Rosalie Bay; stay at the charming, family-run Rosalie Bay Resort..

Worth it for: Pure, untouched Caribbean beauty. The island of Dominica has managed to fly fairly under-the-radar, and its beaches remain wild, rugged and unspoiled.